Egg-in-a-Hole with Spinach & Bacon

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

2. Cook bacon in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat until crisp, 7 to 9 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Pour the bacon fat into a small heatproof bowl. If necessary, add oil to make 2 tablespoons.

3. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, about 30 seconds. Add spinach by the handful and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a colander; press out excess liquid. Return the spinach to the pan and season with vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and salt.

4. Cut a 3 1/2-inch hole in the middle of each slice of bread. (Save the rounds for another use, if desired.) Heat 1 tablespoon of the reserved bacon fat in the skillet over medium-high heat. Cook 2 slices of bread, pressing with a spatula, until lightly browned, 1 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining fat and bread. Fill each hole with spinach. Make a deep well in the spinach and break an egg into each well.

5. Bake, rotating the baking sheet 180 degrees about halfway through, 10 to 14 minutes for soft-set yolks. Serve sprinkled with crumbled bacon and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

   

Tips

Easy cleanup: Recipes that require cooking spray can leave behind a sticky residue that can be hard to clean. To save time and keep your baking sheet looking fresh, line it with a layer of foil before you apply the cooking spray.